Trauma presentation - IL school counselors

3. Accidents and Falls
Medical Procedures
Violent Acts/Attacks
Bullying
Family Violence
Physical and Sexual Abuse
Death, Loss Divorce
Environmental Stressors

5. “If it’s hysterical, it’s
historical.”

7. INCREASES RISK BY:
 Chronic Pulmonary Lung Disease – 390%
 Hepatitis – 240%
 Depression – 460%
 Attempted Suicide – 1220%

9. AREAS OF THE BRAIN
AFFECTED BY TRAUMA
•Prefrontal Cortex – Thinking Center
(underactive)
•Anterior Cingulate Cortex – Emotion
Regulation Center (underactive)
•Amygdala – Fear Center (overactive)

11. “The more threatened you are the more
primitive you are in your behavior.”
- Dr. Bruce Perry

13. This is Where
we Think.

14. This is Where our
Fight or Flight is.

17. WHEN THE AMYGDALA
TALKS . . .
THEY ARE NOT
LISTENING

18. AMYGDALA

20. THE FLOOD ZONE
Rational thinking is not possible until the
blood reaches the top of the head
Biological not psychological
The brain will only reset by changing the 5
senses

24. CHILDREN WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED TRAUMA DON’T
TRUST
Being a safe person is the most important
thing you can offer a child who has not
experienced safety before.
“I hear you. I believe you. I understand
you. I accept you. I respect you.”

25. Acknowledge the Feeling
“I see that you’re angry.”
Communicate the Limit
“But I am not for hitting.”
Target an Alternative
“You can hit this pillow.”

26. “Play is the language of children. Toys are their words.”

27. SIGNIFICANCE OF DEVELOPMENTAL
PLAY
Children explore their world at an experiential level rather
than a cognitive level.
Play is their way of expressing feelings about the world as
well as feelings about themselves.
Counselor meets the child at his/her level rather than the
adult level.

28. RECOMMENDED PLAY MATERIALS
 Dolls, bottles, dollhouse,
multicultural people
 Aggressive and domestic
miniature animals; puppets
 Clay, arts/crafts materials
 Cars/trucks, emergency vehicles,
planes
 Wooden blocks, balls
 Sand tray with sand

29. NON-DIRECTIVE PLAY THERAPY
Child chooses the toys they want to play with
Child chooses the activities that are done within a session
Child chooses if counselor plays or does not play
Counselor “tracks” what the child says

30. TRACKING STATEMENTS FOR NON-
DIRECTIVE PLAY
“The dinosaur is very angry.”
“You are wanting to play with the sand today.”
“You’re frustrated because the lid won’t come off.”
“You’re having trouble deciding what to do today.”
*Counselor has a“hands-off”approach.

32. WHEN TO USE NON-DIRECTIVE
PLAY
When you don’t have a clear idea of what the issue is
Before child develops a connection and trusts you
When a child is resistant to directive play
When a child is rigid and lacks imagination

39. Performance Decline
Obsessive Talking about Incident
Behavior Changes
Elaborate Play Reenactments
Psychosomatic Complaints

40.  Acting Out Behaviors
 Low Self-Esteem
 Displaced Anger
 “Too old, too fast”
 Preoccupation with Own Reactions

41. Mental separation from the trauma
Feeling detached from the body
Feel as if they’re “in a dream”
May not remember specific events
May look attention related – spacing out,
daydreaming, etc.

42. • Trouble concentrating
• Difficulty learning
• Easily distracted
• Doesn’t listen well
• Disorganized
• Hyperactive/Restless
• Doesn’t sleep well

44. You can’t help
children heal
from trauma
until they’re out
of a traumatic
situation. You
are there to help
them cope.

49. My name is ____________________.
I am safe right now.
I am in the present, not the past.
I am located in _____________.
The date is __________________.

50. TOOLS FOR ADOLESCENTS

54. GROUNDING ACTIVITIES
Describe your environment in detail using all your senses –
“The walls are white. There are five pink chairs.”
Play a “Categories” game with yourself. Think of “types of
dogs,” “types of musicians, etc.”
Run cool water over your hands.
Grab tightly to your chair as hard as you can.
Carry and object in your pocket to remind you that you are
safe.

55. WEBSITE: allisonjedwards.com
INSTAGRAM: allisone_lpc
TWITTER: @allisoneLPC
BLOG: allisonjedwards.com/blog/